A citizen was asked to leave the operating room of the Matola Provincial Hospital, in Maputo province, on Thursday (01), due to the absence of the nursing staff who started a strike.

"I went back to the operating room. They took me out of there to go home. I had to be operated on today [Thursday]. I was already dressed in my operating clothes. They've given me a forced discharge and I don't know what it's going to be like," said a patient interviewed by STV.

There was a lack of nurses at some health centers, including Matola Hospital, Nkobe Health Center and Mavalane Health Center. At Mavalane General Hospital, the nursing staff worked half-time, with the medical staff leading the way, but with various difficulties. Across the country, it seems that Maputo Central Hospital, Nampula Central Hospital and the Primeiro de Maio Health Center in the same city were operating relatively normally.

According to some patients, the recommendation was to return to their homes until the situation normalized.

The nurses' strike is the result of demands for better working conditions and an increase in their salaries. The action also has to do with the lack of consensus between nurses, laboratory technicians, auxiliary drivers and the government on improving salaries.